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Any Handler (Pro-Amateur) can Run 5-8 dogs period, it makes those that run in mass, have to pick the best dogs to be that 5-8, any trip divided btw 5-8 owners is completely doable, heck an Amateur does it with no clients for 1-2 dogs. This eliminates the 20-30 dogs handlers, who are often times to busy to help at a stake. Easy quick, less dogs, the Amateur is not affected, there's still a place for the Pro, and for those who want to run more dogs, it brings in other handlers, who can help at the event, air-run dogs on the same truck, and no-one (contestants, judges, setup workers) is waiting for any single handler (pre-line prep. honor situation, retrieving-airing dogs, etc.).

Don't hold back my 2-3 year old MH pocket rocket, she has just as much chance as any, and probably a lot more than some. I run my own dogs & take care of all my own expenses. I don't pony up an entry fee-travel, for a dog without a pretty good shot.

Last edited by Hunt'EmUp; 04-19-2013 at 01:25 PM.

"They's Just DAWGS"
"Hunting is a skill to be learned whether you do it early or late it still needs to be learned"
"I train dogs, Not papers"

The 12 passes would only be for a new MH. Previously, the 5 or 6 passes earned before the dog got its MH title, counted for MN qualification purposes. They no longer count, only passes after the title is earned. So a young dog that earned its MH during the MN qualifying year, would need 6 additional passes that year to qualify for the MN.

Great will solve the volumn problem. Lots of suggestions that require someone else to do the work. I have talked to several on the MN committee. Here's a suggestion that will pucker some. Move to a permanent site ie Demopolos. They thave the grounds, and the workers, and the experience. And the town would welcome the MN with open arms.

That's the way the oldest and most prestigous dog event in the United States works.... The Championships at Ames Plantation.

Great will solve the volumn problem. Lots of suggestions that require someone else to do the work. I have talked to several on the MN committee. Here's a suggestion that will pucker some. Move to a permanent site ie Demopolos. They thave the grounds, and the workers, and the experience. And the town would welcome the MN with open arms.

workers....... the locals told us last year that the inmates were to be slowly moved out of that facility.

The more folks I talk with seem to have less interest in the MN than before. Mainly due to the politics of the event and club in general.

Paul,

Please explain your saying "mainly due to the politics of the event and club in general". What "politics of the event" are in play ? I think of politics (in field trials) as being crooked judges who award their pros and/ or their friends. Or the reverse ... judges who have some grudge against an owner or handler and withhold a win or placement from people they don't like.

Are you inferring that MNRC officers and/or Board members get passes for the dogs they run ?

You also said "due to the politics of the club in general". I am probably naive, but I don't see how the MNRC club can be political. It is comprised of member clubs from all over the country. I don't see any collective cohesion among the member clubs which would make the "club" political.

So are you referring to the officers and Board members of the MNRC as being the political body?

Like Ted, I don't have a dog in this fight. I am just curious. I don't see how this amendment proposed by the MNRC Officers and Board members is going to solve their high entry situation that has become a management problem.

Any Handler (Pro-Amateur) can Run 5-8 dogs period, it makes those that run in mass, have to pick the best dogs to be that 5-8, any trip divided btw 5-8 owners is completely doable, heck an Amateur does it with no clients for 1-2 dogs. This eliminates the 20-30 dogs handlers, who are often times to busy to help at a stake. Easy quick, less dogs, the Amateur is not affected, there's still a place for the Pro, and for those who want to run more dogs, it brings in other handlers, who can help at the event, air-run dogs on the same truck, and no-one (contestants, judges, setup workers) is waiting for any single handler (pre-line prep. honor situation, retrieving-airing dogs, etc.).

Don't hold back my 2-3 year old MH pocket rocket, she has just as much chance as any, and probably a lot more than some. I run my own dogs & take care of all my own expenses. I don't pony up an entry fee-travel, for a dog without a pretty good shot.

This is really the only good fix for the number of dogs. Everyone is happy, all can play just cannot play with so many dogs. Pro can pick their best for that year and run them. It works for the Grand. Until this year, handlers were limited to 8 dogs, not change to 12. They should have left it at 8 in my opinion.

The inmates that worked on the cattle ranch when it was a cattle ranch and catfish farm have been moved. This was about 100 or so. They've been replaced by maybe 40-50 inmates who are housed there as a work-release center plus about 6-8 folks who work on the cattle ranch keeping it up for the dog events.
when we had 100 inmates, it was never hard finding 30-40 to work a double test. Now that the population has been severely reduced, there can be some problems. I worked a Junior there 2 wks ago and all we could get was 3 workers. In the past, a Jr test would have twice that number.

The idea of having an event equal to the MN there every year is frightening because it would mean 1 or 2 w/e tests by the local clubs would have to be given up every year. The idea of giving away w/e tests to hold the MN is really sort of an anathema. It runs counter to why people participate in the clubs.

Please explain your saying "mainly due to the politics of the event and club in general". What "politics of the event" are in play ? I think of politics (in field trials) as being crooked judges who award their pros and/ or their friends. Or the reverse ... judges who have some grudge against an owner or handler and withhold a win or placement from people they don't like.

Are you inferring that MNRC officers and/or Board members get passes for the dogs they run ?

You also said "due to the politics of the club in general". I am probably naive, but I don't see how the MNRC club can be political. It is comprised of member clubs from all over the country. I don't see any collective cohesion among the member clubs which would make the "club" political.

So are you referring to the officers and Board members of the MNRC as being the political body?

Like Ted, I don't have a dog in this fight. I am just curious. I don't see how this amendment proposed by the MNRC Officers and Board members is going to solve their high entry situation that has become a management problem.

Helen

Politics at play for Judges selections, "perceived" changes in the weekend tests(aka "mini-master nationals"), elections of officers, expenditures on parties, etc. Local club members look closely at the Scuttlebutt, true and relative or not. Local clubs must pay their dues knowing or disaproving with fear if, they don't continue to be a MN club, their entries will drop because they no longer hold the coveted MN designation on their event. Mike Moscowitz has addressed this before and his club acted accordingly.

I wonder what percentage of each local club membership actually will attend the event? Is it 1%? 5%? 10%?

The inmates that worked on the cattle ranch when it was a cattle ranch and catfish farm have been moved. This was about 100 or so. They've been replaced by maybe 40-50 inmates who are housed there as a work-release center plus about 6-8 folks who work on the cattle ranch keeping it up for the dog events.
when we had 100 inmates, it was never hard finding 30-40 to work a double test. Now that the population has been severely reduced, there can be some problems. I worked a Junior there 2 wks ago and all we could get was 3 workers. In the past, a Jr test would have twice that number.

The idea of having an event equal to the MN there every year is frightening because it would mean 1 or 2 w/e tests by the local clubs would have to be given up every year. The idea of giving away w/e tests to hold the MN is really sort of an anathema. It runs counter to why people participate in the clubs.

Here's a revolutionary idea, let's make the weekend HT a true test of a finished gun dog.

1. In at least one triple marking series, a blind retrieve shall be made before the marks are picked up but after all three marks have fallen. The blind shall be longer than any of the three marks and between the falls to simulate a lively cripple.

2. At least one marking series shall have the working dog positioned at least 10 feet from the handler.

3. At least one series will require the dog to work from a boat, field blind or other station commonly used in hunting situations.

I'm sure there are other suggestions to increase the realism and difficulty of the weekend test.

Only true finished dogs could earn a mh then and mnh would become a real honor.